Amber hits the target to claim first World Championship medals
Shooting: Former Claires Court School student secures mixed team gold and an individual silver in Croatia
Amber Hill has continued her incredible form in major competitions this year by securing two medals at the World Championships in Croatia.
The first, an individual silver in Women’s Skeet, followed by a Mixed Team gold, making her and partner Ben Llewellin World Champions in the event.
The good news comes after the former Claires Court School student and Windsor resident missed out on the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year due to a positive COVID test.
Speaking after becoming World Champions in the Mixed Team event, she said: “It’s great to shoot as a team. We carry each other through and it really is a joint effort.
“Ben’s great performance in the final made it easier on me.”
Hill hit 123 of 125 targets to lead qualifying in Osijek, Croatia before claiming World Championship silver.
She registered 27 from 30 in the ranking round to secure a spot in the medal match.
The skeet star, who first appeared at the World Championships in 2013, comfortably outgunned USA’s Sam Simonton and Slovak Vanesa Hockova to win her maiden global medal.
2016 Olympic champion Diana Bacosi of Italy missed just once in the medal match to take gold.
“It feels amazing,” said Hill.
“I’ve never won a world title or a medal before so to come away with my first is amazing. It’s a brilliant end to the year.
“We had to shoot over three days so it was definitely long and drawn out, but I just had to stay focused on what I was here to do.
“The big score was proof that the work we’re putting in at home is paying off. The consistency is getting there.
“The final was about letting the adrenalin carry me through and doing my best. To come away with a silver is an amazing feeling.”
Hill has already secured a quota place for Team GB in women’s skeet having scooped European gold in Larnaca, Cyprus last month.
She is one of the form British athletes in any Olympic sport, extending an unbroken run of podium finishes at major competition that stretches back to March 2021.
With gold in Nicosia and silver in Changwon and Lonato, she has excelled in the World Cup series this year.
“It seems incredible, from the first medals of 2021, to continue it at every competition,” added Hill.
“I don’t know how I’m doing it but I am on a bit of a medal streak at the moment. I’m just hoping it continues into next year.”